Saturday, August 15, 2009

It has been way too long since I posted last to this blog regarding a pack of cards which called out to me in the checkout line of our local mega-giant retailer. The time has come.

For your viewing pleasure, I spent more on a single pack of cards than I recall ever spending for a single pack of cards. I know, many people have no problem dropping a 20-spot or more on a single pack, but I usually have an issue with that. But, I got paid, and had a little 'extra' in my check this time, so I figured, "What the hey."

The first card in the pack is BJ Upton (Rays):

The cards are a little thicker than "regular" cards, but not by much. And, maybe they aren't thicker so much as it is a nicer stock than usual. There is a gold foil "Sweet Spot" logo in the upper corner, a full-card image (no borders here!), and the player's name, team and position are stamped in silver foil at the bottom.

The edges of the card feature a team-related airbrushing effect inside an embossed baseball stitching pattern (like the seams of a baseball, much like the Ovation series had).

The second card in the pack is Felix Hernandez (Mariners):

The backs of the cards feature the card number at the top with the team logo under that. The player's bio info is next, followed by a paragraph with info about the player's previous season or some outstanding accomplishment. The sides of the card have the backside of the embossment and feature a photo of a baseball with the red stitching. At the bottom of the card, the player's stats for the past few years (depending on how many years fit below the paragraph. The very bottom of the card features all the official logos, copyrights, disclaimers, etc.

Justin Verlander (Tigers) bats third in the pack:

The cards come in a cardboard box, which contains one silver-foil pack. Eight cards in each pack with the "promise" of a game-used or Auto card in every pack. Well, it's not really a promise. It's more like "on average."

The "hit" of the pack (since there were no Tribers in the pack), is the Sweet Swatch Dual Memorabilia card featuring Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau (Twins):

Morneau is described on the back as the "homer-happy first baseman." Just sayin'. Of course, the back congratulates you on getting a G-U memorabilia card without telling you what KIND of game-used item you actually have. Man, card companies have gotten so lazy.

Next up, batting 6th in our line-up (since the previous card had two batters on it), is Adam Dunn (Diamondbacks):

Batting seventh, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine. Say what you will, I have always been a Glavine fan:

Coming in to bat in the 8th spot, our only horizontal card, Dan Haren (Diamondbacks):

Really? Eight cards and two of them are from the same team? Bummer.

Batting in the ninth and final spot, card #8 in the pack, yes, it is Yet Another Yankee Stadium Legacy Card. This one is of Red Ruffing. Never heard of him. But, "his 36 career home runs rank third all time among pitchers," according to the stats on the back:

Not a bad selection of players on some nice-looking cards.

I am posting an 'extended remix' version of this post over on APTBNL. Join me, won't you?